[drphoto]

Ok, another dumb question from a vinyl newb. Why would you need to wash a record, especially a new one? Why would it not be sufficient to remove dust w/ a good antistatic brush. (I've got one on order, an Audioquest)

Static seems to be the big problem. Will this brush do the trick? I had a zerostat gun back in the 70's but I'm not sure that did any thing more than function as a cheap taser. 

If washing is really needed, I could spring for that low end model from KAB. Man, I wanted to do this on the cheap, but I can see this vinyl thing is going to be a slippery slope to the poor house!

[Photon46]

If you'd ever seen the inside of a record pressing plant, you'd not wonder anymore. I remember someone describing one they visited as more like a car repair shop than the pristine, clean environment you might expect. Sometimes there's mold release on the vinyl as well as the errant particles that get inside the record package. It's just a good precaution at the very least, any microscopic dirt that remains in the grooves can get ground and melted into the vinyl as the stylus traces it's path.

[SteveFord]

The fluid which goes into my VPI cleaner is clear, the fluid which drains out is the color of iced tea.
I also use a ZeroStat which seems to work well for keeping the dust off.

[steveblezy]

That is a good way of describing it. Clear fluid in, iced tea out. I noticed the same thing. I recently added a steam clean pass to the process and have noticed additional improvements. I used to apply the solution and rinse twice. Now I apply the solution (scrub), vacuum and apply a steam pass, rinse twice and one more steam pass. I have notice a difference in the way that the rinse water beads on the record. I am assuming that the first steam pass is removing an extra amount of cleaning fluid residue. I was concerned at first about warping records but I have not even come close. I even tried to purposely destroy a scrap record. It took a lot of work to even get close to causing a problem. I mean, I really went out of my way in blasting for minutes and minutes on the same groove with the nozzle 1-2mm off the record surface. The streamer was the best $20 I spent at a second-hand shop in a long time. Oh yeah, I am using a VPI cleaner and apply the steam directly in-front of the vacuum pickup as little water is outputted and I wanted anything that was lifted to be sucked off as quickly as possible. Do in in the kitchen on top of the stove so I can run the stove overhead ventilation to evacuate the extra steam from the room. This process revived a few records suffering from mold damage. No amount of cleaning was able to sort out those records.

[Scottdazzle]

New records often have visible bits of paper, dust, and grit.  There's probably plenty that isn't visible.  Better to clean it off than grind it in to the grooves.

[Wayner]

I always damp brush my records just before I play them with my own record cleaning formula and a Discwasher brush. It takes off the dust and reduces static discharge.

May I also suggest using MOFI record sleeves. They are great at protecting the vinyl and are kind of inexpensive,  way better then the paper sleeves, that can scratch.

Wayner

[drphoto]

Ok, for fans of vacuum type cleaners. Isn't the whole thing unnecessarily complicated? Why not just wash the record by hand then vacuum w/ a small wet vac w/ something soft like velvet on the tip of the nozzle. Move the hose, not the record.

[Photon46]

It's WAY more of a P.I.T.A. to wash a record by hand and then vacuum the way you suggest. I've done it both ways, a record cleaning machine is vastly easier and faster. When you think about the investment you have in media and styli, begrudging the small amount of time to clean properly seems self defeating. I agree that some vinyl fans seem to fetishize making the cleaning ritual as convoluted as possible. I'd hazard a guess that 85% of the benefit derived from complicated cleaning rituals would be realized by a simple one step vacuum cleaning, at least on most well cared for used vinyl. Sure I've had the odd lp that really benefited from steam cleaning and then following up with a multistep wet cleaning ritual. But, most lp's don't need this elaborate process in my experience.

[Elizabeth]

I use a normal Vacuum cleaner to vac the LP surfaces after washing and blotting with paper towel to take most of moisture off Lp surface. I use an attachment just for LPs which I put a bit of silicon stuff on so it slides on Lp easier.
I  also use the vac just to remove dust if Lp seems dusty. Works great, noisy! but works.

[steveblezy]

I would say that the cleaning ritual is very much based on the condition of the record itself. I purchase a lot of used and bargain bin records. For the most part, a simple wash and vacuum is all that is required. I do watch how the fluids bead/spread on the disc. If I notice that the second rinse is not beading, I will pull out the steam to give is a good going over. Personally I prefer to spend my time listening instead of cleaning. A quick assessment of the particular disc before I start and a little observation is all that is required. I have noticed that the steam cleaning does improve things and will sort out difficult records but at the end of the day, it is just about using a little common sense.

[vinyl_guy]

May I also suggest using MOFI record sleeves. They are great at protecting the vinyl and are kind of inexpensive,  way better then the paper sleeves, that can scratch.

Wayner

+1 IMO, this is a must.

[drphoto]

What about antistatic devices? Any that really work and don't cost a fortune? From what I remember and my recent attemps w/ vinyl, static seems to be a huge problem.

[TheChairGuy]

What about antistatic devices? Any that really work and don't cost a fortune? From what I remember and my recent attemps w/ vinyl, static seems to be a huge problem.

Using an record cleaning machine...static issues are largely mitigated...that has been my experience. The process of applying fluid, scrubbing then vacuuming them up render static nearly to zero.

Any other type of cleaning has often results in MORE static, not less, then the original record presented itself.  As was said here or in another of your posts...I, too, have never experience a cleaning ritual as good as an RCM provides.

The KAB unit is fine so long as you have a canister or upright with a hose.  If you don't a used canister unit (best and cheaper bets are Eureka Mighty Mite and a few Hoover machines) can be found inexpensively on ebay, Craigslist on at your local Thrift shop.

John